Sewing machine



21, 1930. M. w. HOWAhD SEWiNG MACHINE Fiied Jan. 24, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN+UV2 MR0 AM ML 13y "7 M. w. HOWARD I snwxue momma File'd Jan. 24, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN+EJVZ Patented Oct. 21, 1930 MERTON w. HOWARD, F LYN-N, MAS ACHUSETTS, 'ASSIGNOR '10 nownnfinmnor .MVENTICOMPANYY, or Lynn, MASSACHUSETTS, A ooaronerron or MASSACHUSETTS SEWING MACHINE 7 Applicationfiled January- 24, 1929. Serial No. 334,735.

This invention relates to sewing machines and has for an-objectto facilitate the insertion of the needle into the needle bariarid the replacement: of broken or otherwise damaged needles. In a preferred embodimentof this feature of the invention there is provided a needle magazine adapted to hold a supply of needles, together with means for feeding said needles, singly and as required, from, the magazine into the needle bar, and devices for automatically positioning in the needle bar a needle delivered thereinto.

'A further object of theinvention'is to provide means whereby .the angular position of "the needle about its longitudinal axis can be readily adjusted to varythe angular position of the needle-eye with. respect to "the cooperating switch. forming devices,- it having been found in practice that there; is one angular position of the needle eye atwhich the stitch forming mechanism will operate to the best advantage, and that this position varies even in supposedly identical'machines and can be .determined'for' any particular machine onlyby trial.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, to ether with means whereby the latter may e carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description of certain forms or embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It willbe understood, however, that the particular constructions described and shown havebeen chosen for purposesof exemplification merely, and that the invention, as defined'by the claims hereunto appended, may

be otherwise embodied without departure .from the spirit and'scope thereof.

V In said drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevatiompartly broken away, and l Fig.2 a front elevation, likewise partly broken away, of a portion of a sewing machine embodying the invention. I 1

Fig. 3-is an enlarged plan View, partly broken away, of'the needle magazine.

Figs. 4 and 5 arefurther enlarged transverse sections of'the needle bar, taken substantially on the lines 4'4'and 5'5, respectively, -Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an'enlarged detail sectionalview of the, lower end of the needle bar, illustrat ing the operation of the needle 'let-ofi', abutv ment, and longitudinal ,positioning: devices.

Fig. 7 i'sa further enlargedidetail section 55,

taken substantially on theline 7 7, Fig. 6. v

Fig. 8 isv a longitudinal sectionofthe needle bar, taken Fig. 9 is adetail viewillustratinga c0 fi'cation of the needle let-o fliand positioningf devices shown in Fig.6. v 1

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, ldenotes the machine bed or work support, perforated ias shown at 16, for the passage of the ineedl'e e5 17 and enclosing a shuttle 18 together wi-th suitable work feeding mechanism including:

a work engaging feedmember -19. The head 20 of the.- machine providessuitable guides for a longitudinally reciprocatingineedle bar 1 21 and bearings for a shaft 22 having. crank disc 23 connect-ed by a pitma1r24 with the needle bar 21 for reciprocating-the; latter in its guides. The work-is-heldmpon the bed 15 by a presser-foot- 2,5, shown aseof fi the roller type, swivelled to the lower end of; a presser-foot bar 26 guided in the head 20;, said apresser-foot being normally-pressed against the work .by a spring=27--and being-' lifted whensnecessary by a :manuallyoperated cam leverl28. Exceptc as hereinafter pointed out, the parts thus far referred ito may be of: any. usual orwell known .formras' I the invention is applicable: to sewing ma. chines of awide variety of types. .In'accordance with the present invention, means are provided whereby the needle 17 maybe angularly adjusted about its longitu-i dinal axis to vary the angulariposition' of its eye 29 with respect to the shuttle 18 and other' parts ofthe machine. Preferablyi this is ac- I complished by'angular adjustment of themeedle bar 21*about the longitudinal axis of the latter. As shown, the needle bar*21 isofcircular cross-section, so-as toturn in iits'guides in lthehead, and is provided with a collar 30 to which the pitman 24 is connected, said c'ol. lar-being split and being secured imposition on said needle bar bya clampscrew? 31. It

will be seenthat' by loosening the1screw31- the.

substantially on the line i needle bar 21 can be turned in its guides and in the collar 30 to vary the angular position of the needle as above stated. For the purose of facilitating and indicating the ad- ]ustment, the needle bar 21 is preferably provided with a second collar 32 secured thereto immediately above the collar 30 by a set screw 33 and having a graduated scale which cooperates with an index mark on the collar 30.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, means are provided for supplying needles to the needle bar in predetermined angular relation thereto. As. shown, the needle bar 21 is formed with an axially disposed passage 34 extending longitudinally therethrough from top to bottom and of a suitable size to permit a needle to pass therethrough from the upper to the lower end thereof. The needle and passage are so formed as to provide cooperating means for angularly positioning the needle in the bar. As shown, said means comprise an internal longitudinal spline 35 projecting into the passage 34 and engaging a groove 36 formed in the needle. At its lower end the needle bar is provided at a point diametrically opposite to the spline 35 with a manually operated clamp screw 37 for securing the needle in place. The spline 35 and groove 36 are of complementary V-shape, so that the clamp screw 37 operates to force the needle and spline into wedging engagement, thereby accurately determining the angular position of the needle in the needle bar.

The needles may be delivered to the passage 34 in the needle bar, preferably at the upper end thereof, from a magazine 38 supported above the upper end of the needle bar by a bracket 39 secured to the top of the head 20. As shown, the magazine 38 is in the form of a cylinder or barrel mounted on a stud 41 to turn about an axis parallel to the needle bar and formed with a coaxial circular series of parallel needle-receiving pockets 40 in the form of bores or passages which correspond in form to the passage 34 in the needle bar 21, and which may be selectively brought into ali ment with said passage by turning said cylinder on said stud. The needles are disengageably retained in the several pockets 40 by a resilient band, preferably in the form of an annular spiral spring 42, which is fitted in a circumferential groove 43 intersecting the pockets 40. In order to assist the operator in selectively aligning the pockets 40 with the passage 34, the magazine or cylinder 38 may e provided in its outer surface with a circumferential series of positioning sockets '44 to receive the conical end of a spring-pressed positioning plunger 45 carried by the bracket 39.

For discharging a needle 17 into the passage 34 from a pocket 40 aligned therewith, there is provided a plunger- 46 guided in the bracket 39 for longitudinal movement in alignment with the passage 34, said plunger being normally held by a spring 47 in the elevated position shown in which its lower end is clear of the upper surface of the cylinder 38. By manually depressing the plunger 46 against the tension of the spring 47, a needle 17 in an aligned pocket 40 may be released from the band 42 and discharged from said pocket into the passage 34.

The pockets 40 are formed with internal splines 48 similar to the spline 35 in the passage 34 and substantially fitting the grooves 36 in the needles 17, whereby said needles are angularly positioned in said pockets. In order to permit the proper reception of the angularly positioned needles from the pockets 40 into the passage 38, irrespective of the angular adjustment of the needle bar as above described, and at the same time insure the proper angular positioning of the needle in the needle bar, the spline 35, as will be clearly seen by comparison of Figs. 4 and 5, is formed narrower at the top than at the bottom, at which latter point it substantially fits with groove 36 in the needle. By this arrangement there is provided at the top of the needle bar an amount of angular lostmotion between the needle and bar sufficient to permit the required range of angular adjustment of the bar, the amount of said angular lost-motion decreasing from the upper to the lower end of the bar and being substantially zero at said lower end.

Adjacent its lower end the needle bar 21 is provided with a combined needle let-oif and abutment device in the form of a slide 49 guided for transverse movement in said needle bar and having an opening 50 therethrough which, in one position of said slide, registers with the passage 34. The slide 49 is normally held with the opening 50 out of re ister with the passage 34, shown in Fig. 1, a spring 51. When in this position, a needle dropped through the passage 34 is arrested by the slide 49 which may, however, be manually moved into the position shown in Fig. 6 to permit said needle to drop through the opening 50, after which return of the slide to its normal position causes said slide to form an abutment for the butt end of the needle, as shown in Fig. 1.

For the purpose of longitudinally positioning the needle in the needle bar with respect to the abutment 49, there is provided a stop 52 movable into and out of position for engagement by a needle when the latter drops through the opening 50 in the slide 49. As shown in Fig. 6, the stop 52 is carried by the slide 49, being further guided for movement parallel therewith by a stud 53 carried by the stop and slidably received in an opening in the needle bar. The stop 52 is formed with an angular end disposed below the lowerend of the needle bar and having a notch 54 which,

' slide 49, is in the form of a slide guided in the.

when'the parts arein, the position in Figs. 6 and 7 ,is aligned with the passage 34... The notch 54 is of a suitable size to permit the shank of the needle to pass -.tlierethrough but is smaller than the butt end of the needle which is formed with a. shoulder 55 adapted to engage the edge of the notch, thereby arresting the movement of tl e needle and positioning the same as above described.

In the modification shown in F 9, the stop 52*, instead of being carried by the hub of the presser foot and normally held retracted by a spring 56. Whenthe slide 49 is operated by the thumb of the operator to release aneedle, the slide 52 may be simultaneously operated by the operators finger to project the same into a position to be engaged by the point of the needle, thereby longitudinall iositionin the latter in the desired manner. The arrangement of the slide 52 in the presser foot 25 is such that when the presser foot is turned into the inoperative position shown in Figs. 1 2 and 9, said slide will be in a position for cooperation with the needle as above described, but when said presser foot is turned back into its operative position at right angles to the position shown the slide 52 is turned away from the needle bar so as not in any way to interfere with the functioning of the machine.

It will be understood that when it becomes necessary to remove a broken or otherwise damaged needle, the clamp screw 37 is re leased and the old needle removed, whereupon the magazine 38 is turned to bring a. pocket 40 containing a. new needle intoalignment with the needle bar passage 34, and the plunger 36 is operated to discharge said needle into said passage. The needle dropping; through the passage 34 is angularly positioned in said bar by the spline 35. At the same time, the slide 49 is moved into the position shown in Figs. 6 and 9, d the stop 52 sinniltaneously moved into operative position, whereupon the needle drops through the opening and is arrested in proper longitudinal position by the stop. The clamp screw 37 is then tightened to clamp the needle in this position, and the slide 49 released, whereupon said slide returns to its normal position to constitute an abutment total:

the end thrust of the needle. t

I claim:

1. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needlebar having a longitudinal passage therethrough, of a needle insertable into said needle bar from the upper end thereof through said passage, said needle and passage having cooperating means for angularly positioning said needle in said bar. 7

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle bar having a longitudinal passage. therethrough, of a needle insertable into said needle bar from the upper end thereof through said passage, said needle and passage having a cooperating spline and groove for angularly positioning said needle in said bar.

3. In asewing machine, in combination, a.

needle bar, a magazine adapted to hold a supply of needles, means whereby said needles may be delivered singly from said magazine into said. needle bar, and means carried by said needle bar for positioning therein a needle delivered thereinto. i

4. In a sewing machine, in combination, a needle bar having a passage therein, a magazine adapted to hold a supply of needles, means wherebysaid needles may be Cl6l1VGI8d singly from said magazine into said passage,

and means in said passage for angularly positioni'ng a needle delivered thereinto.

5. In a sewing machine, in combination, a needle bar having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a magazine located at the upper end ofsaid bar, said magazine having a series of needle-receiving pockets and being movable to bring said pockets selectively into alinement Wit-h said passage,'and means for discharging aneedle from an alined pocket into said passage.

'6. In a sewing machine, in combination, a needlebar having: a longitudinal passage therethrough, a magazine located at the upper end of saidbar, said magazine having a series of needle-receiving pockets and being movable to bring said pockets selectively into alinement: with said passage, and a plunger alined with said passage for discharging a needle from/an alined pocket into said passage. v j I 7. In asewing machine, incombinat'ion,

aneedle bar having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a magazine located at the upg per end of said bar, said magazine having a circular'serles of needlesrece ving pockets and being rotatable about the axis of said series to bring said pockets selectively into aline-e ment with said passage, means for positioning and disengageablyretaining needles in said pockets, means for discharging a needle from an alined pocket into said passage, and

devices associated with said needle bar-for positioning and securing in place at'the lower end thereof a needle discharged from said magaz ne lIltO. the upper end of said passage.

8. In asewing' machine, in combination, 1 a needle bar havlng alongitudinal passage therethrough, a needle magazine, a supply {of needles therein, means whereby said needles may be delivered singly" from said magazine into theupper 'endzof said passage, means associated with. said magazine for angularly positioning a'needle with respect to said bar at the timeof delivery, andmeans associated with said passage for angularly positioning said needle in said bar and for providing a decreasing amount of angular lost-motion between said needle and bar from the upper to the lower end of. the latter,;said needles being formed to coact with both said positioning means.

9. In a sewing machine, a needle bar having a longitudinal passage therethrough and having at the lower end thereof a combined needle let-off and abutment cooperating with said passage.

10. In a sewing machine, in combination, a needle bar having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a magazine adapted to hold a supply of needles, means whereby said needles may be delivered singly from said magagine into the upper end of said passage, and a combined needle letoff and abutment cooperating with the lower end of said passage.

11. In a sewing machine, a needle bar having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a slide guided for transverse movement in said needle bar adjacent the lower end thereof, said slide having an opening therethrough adapted to be brought into and out of register with said passage when said slide moved transversely, and a spring for normally holding said slide with said opening out of register with said passage.

12. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle bar having a longitudinal passage therethrough, of means at the lower end of said bar for longitudinally positioning a needle dropped through said passage from the upper end thereof.

13. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle bar having a longitudinal passage therethrough, of a needle insertable into said needle bar from the upper end thereof through said passage, said needle and passage having cooperating means for angularly positioning said needle in said bar, and means at the lower end of said bar for longitudinally positioning said needle.

14. In a sewing machine, in combination, a needle bar having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a magazine adapted to hold a supply of needles, means whereby said needles may be delivered singly from said magazine into the upper end of said passage, and means at the lower end of said bar for longitudinally positioning a needle dropped through said passage from the upper end thereof.

15. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle bar having a longitudinal passage therethrough, of means cooperating with the lower end of said passage for arresting a needle passing therethrough, for releasing said needle, and for thereafter providing an abutment for the butt end thereof, and means for longitudinally positioning said needle with respect to said abutment.

16. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle bar having a longitudinal passage therethrough, of a stop movable into and out of position for engagement by a needle dropped through said passage from the upper to the lower end thereof to fix the longitudinal position of said needle, and means for iecuring said needle in said position in said In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

MERTON W'. HOWARD. 

